Knee arthroscopy at North Staffordshire Hospital

Your Nuffield Health surgeon can diagnose problems such as a torn cartilage, ligament damage and arthritis by carrying out knee arthroscopy surgery.

What happens during knee arthroscopy?

• Knee arthroscopy is usually done under general anaesthetic
• The operation usually takes between half an hour and three-quarters of an hour
• Your surgeon will make 2 or 3 small incisions and insert a tiny camera to examine the inside of your knee
• They will wash out any loose material caused by wear of the joint surfaces
• It is usually possible for your surgeon to trim or repair a torn cartilage without needing to make a larger cut.

After the knee operation

• Once your knee arthroscopy operation is over, you’ll be taken to the recovery room
• Here you will wake from the anaesthetic
• Your wounds, blood pressure and pulse will be checked carefully
• You should be able to go home the same day as your operation
• You won’t be able to drive, so you will need to arrange for someone to take you home from hospital once discharged.

How soon will I recover from knee arthroscopy surgery?

• Depending on the level of repair done the arthroscopy procedure causes very little tissue damage
• Most patients recovery fairly quickly
• Your knee will be swollen and sore for the first week following your arthroscopy
• Most patients return to normal activity levels within 2 - 3 weeks
• Be sure and discuss any concerns regarding your recovery with your orthopaedic surgeon.

Most people make a good recovery and return to normal activities following knee arthroscopy. As with any surgery there can be complications:

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Infection of the surgical site (incision)
• Scarring
• Blood clots (DVT - deep vein thrombosis)
• Difficulty passing urine.
  

Specific complications of knee arthroscopy might include:

• Damage to the nerves around the knee
• Developing a lump under the wounds
• Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of the knee.